Merry Clayton

Merry Clayton

Merry Clayton (born December 25, 1948 in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American gospel singer. She provided a number of back-up vocal tracks to songs recorded by major performing artists during the 1960s. Her first name was given because she was born on Christmas day. She was married to jazz artist Curtis Amy until his death in 2002.

She dueted with Mick Jagger on The Rolling Stones' song "Gimme Shelter" on their Let It Bleed release. Reportedly, the intensity of her performance on the song caused her to miscarry.[1] Clayton also sang backing vocals on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".[2] Early in her career, Clayton sang backup vocals for Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker and Carole King. She also originated the role of the Acid Queen in the original 1972 London production of The Who's Tommy. More recently, Clayton has provided background vocals for Sparta's latest album Threes on the songs "Atlas" and "Translation". As an actress, she co-starred with Ally Sheedy in the 1987 film Maid to Order, and played Verna Dee Jordan in the final season of Cagney & Lacey.

Merry also sang the song "Yes" that was in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing and also featured on the soundtrack album.

Political Poems

Some good political poems: Mrs Conservative , Deep Cut etc

http://www.richardmacwilliam.com/politicalmain.html

Spaceman by Phil Ochs

Spaceman
By Phil Ochs


[first: the melody by itself, whistled]

Way high, so high:
Travelin' fast and free.
Spaceman, look down:
Tell me what you see.
Can you see the hunger there
Strike without a sound?
Can you see the food you burn
As you circle round?

Way high, so high:
All the world will cheer.
Spaceman, look down:
Tell me what you hear.
Can you hear a child cry,
Body filled with pain?
Deadly sores when cures are there--
How much fuel remains?

Way high, so high:
Spaceship made of steel.
Spaceman, look down:
Tell me what you feel.
Can you feel the money gone
As you sail through space?
Can you feel how many die
When you win the race?

Way high, so high:
Travelin' fast and free.
Spaceman, look down:

http://web.cecs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics.html

Novorcherkassk June 2 62

Novorcherkassk June 2 62

dum dum bullets ring out
from non-Russian soldiers' guns
and tanks on to peaceful protestors
with their unstaged amended red flags
of protest against rising prices and falling piece rates

Where lie the dead of Novocherkassk ?

Workers and wives crumple at the feet
of a helpless Lenin as Kalashnikovs
take over from the arrogance and contempt
of factory supervisors, Kruschev and Mikoyan

Martial law curfews and lists of names
streets full of troops and tank patrols
mass arrests and secret trials
house visitations and media blackouts

Where lie the dead of Novocherkarssk

cleaning park benches and bloodied
grey buildings deporting the relatives
and better food in the shops

All must pretend
this did not really happen

But where lie the dead of Novorcherkassk ?

Peter Burton July 2007